How to Create a Successful School Trip Itinerary
Planning a compelling school trip itinerary is key to keeping your students happy and involved during your next school trip.
But we understand that finding the time to plan the perfect school trip itinerary can be a bit of a challenge!
So we're here to lend a helping hand. At NST, we can help arrange fantastic school trips with jam-packed itineraries that are sure to capture the imagination of your students and, of course, keep them busy.
Why plan a school trip itinerary?
Having a school trip itinerary also means that your students have the opportunity to learn as much as possible about their new destination.
There are so many more benefits to creating a successful school trip itinerary, including:
1. It helps the group stay organised and on track throughout the trip, which will mean you know exactly where you need to be at any given moment.
2. It allows you to maximise your time at each destination. Having clarity will ensure you have as much time as possible to soak up the surroundings, see what you want, and create a more fulfilling experience for your students.
3. It ensures that parents are getting maximum value for money. Times are tough, so resources and time must be well spent. With a fantastic school trip itinerary, you can clearly demonstrate the value and core expectations of the trip.
So with all of this in mind, you may be wondering how to go about it. Here are some top tips for creating a successful school trip itinerary:
Start by doing your research
As with most school trips, they start with a little research; this ensures you choose the correct destination for the things you want to achieve and that they include appropriate activities for your students to experience.
This includes finding out about the history and culture of your destination, as well as its attractions and landmarks.
Establish the priorities for your school trip itinerary
Once you have an idea of what you want to do and the things you want your students to see, you can start planning the perfect school trip itinerary. It is wise to begin with, the most important activities and work your way down to the less essential ones.
Remember, this is an area where we can help, so make sure to chat to one of our school trip itinerary experts to maximise every moment of your stay.
Be flexible
As much as it's great to be organised and as efficient as possible, it's vital to remember that some things may be beyond your control, resulting in plans going a little off track. An example of this can be a sudden change in weather or an unforeseen circumstance, meaning a planned activity is now unavailable.
To keep things calm and your students happy, make sure to leave some wriggle room and flexibility in your school trip itinerary. This will allow you to make changes in the moment if necessary. It also ensures that things keep moving forward despite any sudden changes.
It's all in the details
Think about each day of the trip and plan activities based on your location. Create a detailed schedule for each day of the trip. This should include all activities, meals, and breaks.
Time management on school trip itineraries
Having a fantastic itinerary for your school trip also involves superb time management. Be sure to account for travel time between destinations. For example, it's wise not to plan things that are too far apart on the same day as this could lead to a loss of productivity.
Having to travel for long periods of time can cause students to become bored and fidgety. So plan ahead; not only will this help avoid any stressful or uncomfortable situations, but it will also mean that the school trip should run as seamlessly as possible.
Have a plan B
Make sure to have a backup plan for each day. This will come in handy in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Plus, it keeps your students happy and engaged. Having flexibility and going with the flow is great, but preempting alternative activities and locations to visit ensures a clever use of time.
Don't forget to make time for fun
Planning a successful itinerary for your school trip is not just about academic learning. It's also about developing students' cultural capital. Trips with a proactive school itinerary ensure that your students have the chance to try fun and new things.
Carefully curated school trip itineraries ensure more enriching moments and provide learning opportunities in disguise.
They encourage students' growth, help develop confidence and strengthen communication and teambuilding skills, all of which enhance classroom learning.
At NST, we have the pleasure of helping plan unforgettable educational school trip itineraries. We're confident that by following these tips, you can be sure that any school trip will be a success.
Get in touch today to discuss your unique requirements. We're always on hand to help.
